Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto!
A couple months later, he returned to take her out on another "date", and she found out about something that she'd never thought a man like him would enjoy doing.
They were sitting on a bench facing a small park, children playing amidst the trees and rolling in the grass like puppies. His arm rested behind her shoulders on the back of the bench, an unconscious gesture that had her smiling as she watched with him.
"What compels you so to do this?"
"Many of these children will become ninjas but for now they are innocent and pure, the way they should be. I've found that I'm rather fond of children, although the feeling isn't mutual."
She snorted and turned to look at him. "Children don't like you?"
He turned his serious eyes to hers. "Like everyone else, they think I'm…intimidating. If children can sense that from me, they are afraid and that turns into dislike. Children don't like to be frightened, after all."
"And here I thought children were excellent judges of character."
"Maybe I am a monster inside and I don't want to accept it."
At that she burst out laughing. "You? A monster? However could anyone think that of someone like you?"
"You hardly know anything about me, Natsu-sama, and vice versa. Perhaps I'm better at acting than you think."
"Being an Uchiha and a ninja, you're born being taught such things. So, are you going to ask me about what I left you with last time?"
"I was getting to it."
"Go on."
"Are you a kunoichi?"
"I am. I'm an Elite Jonin now in combination with my job."
"Have any nicknames?"
A smug grin came to her face. "Oh yes, when I was an ANBU, especially. I was called…" She considered what she should do once she told him a secret amongst the ANBU. She threw caution to the wind at his interested look. "I was called 'Tsukishin', because of my style in assassinations."
"Was it at night in the light of the moon?"
"Yes."
"That would be interesting to see. Do you have any specialties?"
"I'm keen at throwing needles, especially in acupuncture."
"I see. I would hate to be your enemy, especially during interrogations."
"Oh yes, my favorite is 'the manicure'."
Her evil smirk made him more than a little wary of her. "I can picture what that entails."
Her face softened as she considered a question. "Are you an Elite Jonin?"
"No, I was never an ANBU."
"Wasting all that chakra? Why?"
"I never felt comfortable with undercover work and assassinations."
"But you're a ninja! That's what ninjas do!"
"Perhaps I should retire. It would be a nice change to being so busy with missions all the time."
"Tobi-sama…I never thought you to be the pacifist type."
"Why?"
"Your entire being screams that you're very talented, even a genius. How could you throw that power away?"
"Not throw it away, put it to better use than against other ninjas or even civilians."
"Have you had to dispose of civilians before?"
"I've had to too many times for comfort."
She raised a hand and touched his cheek, stroking slowly down to soothe, but he caught her hand. Her eyes widened at his reflexes and saw his eyes sharpen into a warning glare.
"Don't touch me unless I say you can. I might not like violence, but I don't like much physical contact, either."
He let go of her hand, and she flexed it. "You have a strong grip, Tobi-sama. I'm surprised that you never became ANBU with that kind of strength."
There was silence for a moment before he abruptly changed the subject. "Do you like children, Natsu-sama?"
"Do I like children? I love children, why?"
"That's good."
"Are you going to leave me with another mystery until you visit again?"
"Perhaps, if we ever go on the path that might lead to a question I think you'll ponder over if I don't answer it."
He stood and offered a hand to help her up. She took it and liked the calluses on the palm, it reassured her that he was quite the seasoned warrior. He would be able to protect her if need be, and…she hesitated on that thought. It was too early and they knew almost nothing about each other. He didn't even know her real name, but hadn't made a request for it.
They strolled through the trees, Inko watching Tobi as he serenely looked about, before turning his eyes to her. The dark orbs were calm, calmer than she'd ever seen on a ninja, so she was sure that it was a shield, just like hers. She was curious about the man behind the mask and smiled, knowing that whatever she was going to ask him had to be a breakthrough in their relationship, or else it wouldn't seem…like it was moving at all. Sure she liked the mystery, but her curiosity was eating at her about this man who was so closed off to the world. He wasn't even a prick like Ino's old classmate, Sasuke Uchiha. She was sure that there was a story behind why he did this and she wanted to find out, even if it was piece by tiny piece.
"Tobi-sama…" she trailed off, not sure how to put her words without sounding nosy.
"Is there something you wish to ask, Natsu-sama?"
"I…" She stopped again. What was she trying to do, trying to get him to open up when she herself had hardly done so? She felt like such a jerk, being so curious.
He gazed at her, as if trying to read her eyes, even though she kept them serene, just like his. He must've found something that she wasn't hiding very well, because he stated, "You wish to know something very important about me."
"Yes, I do…but I don't want to ask about something that might offend you, Tobi-sama."
"I'll be the judge of whether or not your question is invasive."
"What…what was your childhood like? I want to know what you did when you were young."
He was silent for a moment before he began to speak. "My early childhood was like any other's in the Uchiha Clan, but it all changed once I turned five years old."
"What happened?"
He smirked a little and she knew this was what would have her hanging until he came back.
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